Steele to influence National Leadership Choice

CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 10-Dec-2010

House Speaker-elect Kris Steele is among a select group of state legislators who will choose a Republican nominee to lead the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Steele said the nomination process provides an important opportunity to install a leader to head the national group “who truly understands the issues facing states.”

“This is a unique opportunity for the people of Oklahoma to have a direct role in selecting the leader of a national legislative organization,” said Steele, a Shawnee Republican. “I am honored and enthusiastic about the opportunity to promote conservative leaders to a position of greater influence across the nation.”

Following the November election, NCSL was left with vacancies among its officers – including the office of President-Elect, which must be filled by a Republican, based on the rotation of NCSL Officers.

Vacant positions will be filled by the NCSL Executive Committee at its Saturday (December 11) meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Steele is one of eight members of the Legislative Nominating Committee who will interview candidates for the presidency and make a recommendation.

“I have received many resumes and calls from interested parties throughout this process, and I am very excited by the quality of the candidates,” Steele said. “In this historic time, it is important that the next president of the NCSL be someone who will forcefully advocate for the right of states to set their own policies and oppose federal overreach.”

The National Conference of State Legislatures serves the legislators and staffs of the nation’s 50 states.  NCSL provides research and technical assistance to policymakers on state issues and advocates for the interests of state governments before Congress and federal agencies.

The NCSL Bylaws require that the President-Elect and the Vice President be “legislative leaders from a member jurisdiction at the time of their election” as determined by the body in which they serve.

NCSL is paying for Steele’s travel to the Phoenix meeting. No taxpayer dollars will be expended.